Dr. Jane Goodall discovered that when we put local communities at the heart of conservation, we improve the lives of people, animals and the environment. JGI advances Dr. Goodall’s holistic approach through a tapestry of nine strategies that build on each other and bring the power of community-centered conservation to life.

From the beginning, science has been core to the Jane Goodall Institute’s work. We continue to build on the legendary scientific contributions of Dr. Jane Goodall with our field research at Gombe, our chimpanzee sanctuary in Tchimpounga, and community-centered conservation work around the world. Each advance we make in the use of science and technology illuminates new next steps and allows us to better protect the web of life that connects all living things.

Today, we’re using science and technology in ways that were impossible only a decade ago. We hone in on locations for conservation, assess the state of habitat, and track progress in restoring the land to viable chimpanzee habitat.

JGI’s research continues the world’s longest-running field research on chimpanzees, which Dr. Goodall began in Gombe in 1960. Today, our work at Gombe expands on the largest scientific knowledge base on chimpanzees, serving primatologists around the world. This research provides ever-new insight into the daily lives of chimpanzees, and has developed a deep knowledge of the lives and behavior of over 200 chimps since Jane’s early work in it’s over 55 years of study. Our research plays a unique role in understanding our closest living relatives, providing essential information for the conservation of chimpanzees and contributing to a myriad of other scientific discoveries that benefit humans and chimpanzees alike.

EXPANDING THE SPHERE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD
Protecting great apes and their habitats, and creating a more harmonious relationship between people, animals and the environment is the core of our philosophy and work. Partnering with local communities, we fuel action through the message of hope across every continent. Our Roots & Shoots youth-led community action and learning program supports young people in nearly 100 countries in becoming compassionate conservation and community leaders in their own backyards.

This is where the work begins to save these incredible creatures, and to advance the vision and work of Dr. Jane Goodall for a better world.

icons-where-we-work
GREATER CHIMP RANGE
Wild chimpanzees are only found in one place: Africa. Of the 54 countries on the continent of Africa, chimpanzees inhabit those in central and west Africa in the greatest numbers. The largest populations of wild chimpanzees live in tropical rainforests of what used to be a large continuous habitat across the equatorial belt. This once massive unified forest has been left broken and in pieces due to rapid deforestation, and chimpanzee numbers that once ranged in the millions, have been reduced to less than 340,000. Of the 24 countries wild chimps once inhabited, chimpanzee populations have already gone extinct in 3.

TANZANIAUGANDAREPUBLIC OF CONGODEM. REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
In 1960, Jane Goodall entered the forests of what is now Gombe National Park, Tanzania, to study chimpanzees in the wild. Since her pioneering research in Gombe, it has now become the site of one of the longest continuously running and detailed wild animal studies in history at the Gombe Stream Research Center. (Learn more about our Primate Research).

The Gombe Mahale Ecosystem (GMU) has many natural treasures, and its chimpanzees are subjects of global importance and national pride. It is home to many other endangered or threatened species such as the red colobus monkey, bushbabies, elephants, pangolins, mninga trees and serval cats. GMU also has Tanzania’s highest human population growth rate – 4.8% – and people here depend upon shifting agriculture, logging, charcoal burning, hunting and honey-collecting to survive, which unintentionally greatly damages the environment, wildlife populations and essential primate habitat.

Given the harsh realities local communities and wildlife face, like hunting chimps for bushmeat and cutting down trees for wood or agriculture, solutions must be holistic. JGI has identified nine strategies designed to restore and improve the ecosystem for the benefit of all—chimpanzees as well as human communities in Tanzania.

MALISENEGAL
Despite a range that once spread from Senegal to Nigeria, Western chimpanzee populations have shrunk considerably with the largest groups found in Ivory Coast and Guinea, smaller groups in Liberia and Sierra Leone and relict populations in Mali, Senegal and Ghana. Mali is the only place where a distinct, fascinating and endangered Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) population lives. The unique subgroup of chimpanzees in Mali have adapted to very arid conditions, sheltering in caves to avoid the heat of the day and foraging at night. Little is understood about them.

While it is clear that this population needs to be protected, JGI also seeks to document and understand this unique population. JGI is working to establish baseline data about the population’s viability and conservation status, study their cultural and behavioral characteristics and to develop a plan of action with local partners to protect these chimps.

JANE GOODALL’S ROOTS & SHOOTS
In 1991, a group of 12 local teenagers made history after meeting with Dr. Jane Goodall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Feeling the urgency around a range of problems they had first-hand experience with, they wanted to discuss solutions and ways forward. Dr. Jane was impressed by their compassion, their energy and their desire to develop strategies and projects to improve the lives of animals, people and the environment. Roots & Shoots was born.

Across the world, Roots & Shoots members lead public awareness campaigns, save abandoned animals, plant trees, grow community gardens, help the homeless, reduce waste, protect clean water, promote biodiversity and more. Whether it is raising funds for earthquake victims, or creating education films about pollinators for local schools, they are improving our world one project at a time.

Today, the Roots & Shoots network has blossomed into thousand of members in nearly 100 countries.